Yes, I Have a Child with the Villain

That very night, they moved directly into their new home.

Ryan blinked his eyes, looking at the strange yet familiar house, and asked curiously, "Mommy, how come we’re back at Brocade Bay?"

Caroline looked down, curious. "You know this place, sweetie?"

Ryan skillfully and accurately found his little room, opened the door, and looked inside. "We’ve lived here before. It’s just that sometimes Mommy and Daddy would go back to The Seraphic and Azure Heights for a while."

"..."

’Why does it feel like we’re constantly moving house?’

Caroline glanced at Adrian.

She was surprised to see a gentle smile on his face as he explained to the child, "Those two places are being renovated. We’ll move back once they’re done."

Ryan blinked. "Are Daddy and Mommy going to start preparing my present?"

"Mhm."

"Yay! I’m the happiest kid in the whole world right now." Ryan happily threw himself at them.

Caroline had mixed feelings.

This was the happiest Ryan had seemed in days.

’Turns out a child’s simplest wish is just to be with their parents.’

Seeing the little guy so happy, the corners of Caroline’s mouth turned up unconsciously into a gentle smile.

But soon, she couldn’t smile anymore.

The commotion from Adrian running back to the villa by himself last night had left a small shadow on Ryan, so tonight, he insisted on sleeping with them no matter what.

"Daddy, Mommy, I’m so happy today. You can finally sleep with me tonight."

Ryan lay obediently between the two of them, his little head turning from side to side to look at his mommy and daddy. His voice was filled with unconcealable joy.

The summer night was muggy, and the air conditioner blew softly.

The family of three shared a soft, thin silk quilt.

Caroline lay on her side, facing Ryan, but this meant she was also facing Adrian.

If she just lifted her eyes slightly, she would meet his refined and ascetic face.

But Caroline didn’t dare look up at all, afraid that she might accidentally meet his gaze.

’I’m human. A normal person. A normal woman.’

’It’d be a lie to say I don’t feel shy and awkward being this close to such a flawless face.’

’Besides, that absurd, erotic dream from the other night and what happened this morning keep flashing uncontrollably through my mind.’

’It’s all so distracting.’

CLICK.

Caroline rolled over and turned off the bedside lamp, and the room instantly went dark.

’I don’t remember the agreement saying anything about us having to share a bed to get the child to sleep.’

’Once the kid’s asleep, I’ll go to the guest room.’

"Mommy, why did you turn off the light?" Ryan’s soft, sweet voice sounded by her ear.

"It’s ten thirty. Time for bed," Caroline replied in a low voice.

"But Daddy and Mommy haven’t told me a story yet tonight."

Before bed, they had readily agreed to tell Ryan a story, but it turned out the little rascal had remembered.

Caroline was about to resign herself to her fate and speak, when a deep, cool voice cut in from the darkness first.

"Daddy will tell you one."

Hearing this, Caroline snapped her mouth shut.

’He gets it, at least. Knows how to fulfill his duties as a father.’

In the dim room, only Adrian’s deep voice remained.

’Well, well. I’ve really made it. I’m actually hearing Adrian himself tell a bedtime story.’

Caroline’s heart was a mix of complicated feelings. This whole arrangement was starting off on a surreal note.

’Though Adrian’s voice is perfect for one of those ASMR sleep-aid streamers.’

Just a moment ago she hadn’t been sleepy at all, but now, with her ears enveloped by that rich, magnetic voice, her eyelids were already starting to feel heavy.

’Can’t sleep.’

She fought to stay awake until the breathing of the little ball of warmth beside her grew steady and deep, and Adrian’s voice finally trailed off.

’The kid’s finally asleep.’

Caroline carefully lifted the quilt, and had just picked up her phone when the screen lit up.

"Mommy, where are you going?"

Ryan’s small voice suddenly rang out.

"..."

"..."

The light turned on.

Ryan also climbed out from under the covers, rubbing his eyes.

Caroline turned her head and gave a helpless, resigned smile. "Mommy’s just going to the bathroom."

With that, she put down her phone and walked straight to the bathroom.

"Why aren’t you asleep yet?" Adrian also sat up, reaching out to pat Ryan’s head. He was silent for a moment.

It was his first time dealing with such a young child, and he had no idea a three-and-a-half-year-old could be so vigilant.

Apparently, in Ryan’s eyes, the two of them had enacted a real-life version of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." The two adults had no credibility left to speak of.

When Caroline slowly dawdled out of the bathroom, Adrian had already taken out a new storybook.

’Looks like Adrian’s half-hour supply of off-the-cuff children’s stories, told in the dark, has run out.’

Caroline lifted the quilt, got into bed, and poked the little guy’s cheek. "Hurry up and sleep. Daddy and Mommy have to work tomorrow."

Hearing that they had to work tomorrow, Ryan obediently burrowed back under the covers and closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Caroline also lay down stiffly.

A moment ago, with the lights off and everything pitch black, she hadn’t felt all that awkward.

But now, with the warm yellow light of the bedside lamp enveloping the three of them, she began to feel uncomfortable all over.

Caroline had no choice but to close her eyes as well, her ears filled with the sound of Adrian reading from the storybook.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Adrian tilted his head and looked down. He saw the mother and son, sleeping in the exact same position, their breathing even and deep. It seemed they were truly fast asleep.

He gently closed the storybook, lifted the quilt, and with a CLICK, turned off the light.

In the dimness, the faint glow of a phone screen lit up, moved quietly across the room, and stopped at the bedroom door.

When the door closed softly, the room was plunged into absolute, silent darkness.

「The seven o’clock alarm went off.」

Caroline, who had slept straight through till morning, thought she was still in her own home and subconsciously reached for her phone to turn off the alarm.

Two minutes later, she rolled over and suddenly remembered that she had started living with Adrian last night.

Her eyes shot open with a jolt.

Ryan was still sound asleep, his limbs splayed out.

Her gaze shifted a little higher—there was no sign of Adrian.

Caroline let out a breath of relief for some reason, but at the same time, she wondered if Adrian had slept here last night at all.

She got up, and as she came out of the bathroom after washing up, she saw Adrian already emerging from the kitchen with breakfast.

Caroline was slightly taken aback. "You’re up so early? Last night you..."

"I slept in the guest room last night," Adrian said, placing the tray on the table. He looked up at her, his tone natural. "Want some?"

"Thanks." Caroline sat down without ceremony and accepted the millet porridge he handed her.

She took a sip, then looked up at him, a little surprised. "Do you normally make your own breakfast?"

"Only when the kid is here."

"Oh. You’re quite the dedicated father."

Adrian smiled faintly. "I hope you can fulfill your duties as a mother as well."

"..."

The air was quiet for a moment before Adrian suddenly spoke again.

"I’m working from home today to get better acquainted with the child. Starting tomorrow, I’ll have a nanny from the old family home come over to look after Ryan while we’re at work."